a LOCAL RESOURCE FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH |
Distinctive #1 - CSB Ministries' Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conferences are a resource for local churches and are an extension of CSB's local ministry to equip churches to reach, disciple and mobilize their men. ISI conferences will NOT target the individual man, but rather, local churches. CSB Canada, like all sponsoring ministries, affirms that it is the responsibility of the local church to reach and disciple its men for Christ. CSB's purpose is to help local churches achieve this throughout the year with a variety of resources and activities specific to men of all ages.
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Gives Visibility
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Distinctive #2 - CSB's Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conferences give regional visibility to local needs and ministries. ISI Men's Conferences are part of a 'network of ministries' and NOT part of a national 'organization'. CSB Ministries, the local on-the-ground sponsor, is led by local leaders in full-time vocational ministry. This is the key to the effectiveness of ISI's men's conferences. These local leaders raise their families in the area, know the local turf and are passionate for their region. All revenues from the ISI conference help sustain CSB Ministries' service to local churches year round. The conference is a one-day resource, but the sponsoring ministry serves local churches fifty-two weeks a year.
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equipping men
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Distinctive #3 - Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conferences are equipping conferences with sixteen different equipping seminars designed specifically for men. The focus is on equipping and resourcing men to live for Christ in all areas of life. The seminar topics are specific to men and are rarely offered within the context of the local church. ISI conferences open and close the day with all the men together for a time of masculine worship and exhortative keynote messages from gifted national speakers, but the meat of the conference is found in the sixteen different equipping seminars.
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For Men
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Distinctive #4 - Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conferences are for men of all ages - and manhood begins at 13. We intentionally offer a resource that promotes and encourages intergenerational ministry. We passionately believe that manhood starts early and that men of all ages need mutual encouragement to finish strong for Christ. We design many of the seminars to be specific to different men in different seasons of life. While most are suitable for men of all ages, specific seminars are targeted for Emerging Men (age 13-19); Pioneering Men (age 20-29); Full Throttle Men (age 30-55) and Seasoned Men (age 55+).
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A Consistent, Top-Quality Annual Event |
Distinctive #5 - Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conferences are trustworthy. They occur once a year - every year - in the same location and in the same spot on the calendar. The conference is designed to become a local resource that local churches can trust and depend on. The Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conference is a reliable resource that can be added to the calendar of the local church. An example is the Hartford CT Conference which has been serving churches each March since 2000.
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An affordable
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Distinctive #6 - Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conferences are one-day conferences. We begin at 8:30 AM and end at 4:55 PM. Men can begin their day at home and have dinner at the end of the day at home. The registration cost of $44 and $29 for students without extensive travel costs and zero lodging costs allows this conference model to serve the majority of men. We encourage church groups to travel together and stay together at the conference.
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Christ-Centred & Inter-Denominational
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Distinctive #7 - Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conferences are Christ-centred and a resource to various churches across various denominations. Both ISI and CSB Ministries adhere to the statement of faith of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) and the American National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Our men's conferences are intentionally a 'safe place' where denominational differences are not emphasized but rather the emphasis is on the unity we have through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
An
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Distinctive #8 - Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conferences are "international" men's conferences. One reason is that the conference network reaches out to churches all over North America. Another reason is that each conference features international ministries and resources that are specific to men, and to church-based ministry to men. A more compelling reason is that the keynote speakers have an international platform with men and churches, and that the seminar line-up offers international leaders who travel across the continent sharing their expertise in ministry to men.
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